Lack of effect of cecectomy on oxygen consumption and colonic temperature of germfree rats
Levenson, S.M.; Kan, D.
Journal of Nutrition 105(10): 1237-1240
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 1159518 Document Number: 86554
Germfree Sprague-Dawley rats were in 3 groups according to litter origin, sex and bodyweight. One group was conventionalized at weaning while the other remained germfree. The germfree had sham operations or the caecum was removed. All rats were fed on a stock diet sterilized by steam autoclaving. After 7 months oxygen consumption and colonic temperature were measured and the rats were killed. There was no difference in oxygen consumption and colonic temperature of the caecectomized and intact germfree male rats, but oxygen consumption of the caecectomized germfree female rats was lower than that of the intact rats. Oxygen consumption and colonic temperature of normal male and female rats were significantly higher than those of their germfree counterparts. Caecectomy of the germfree rats prevented the development of very large caeca characteristic of ordinary germfree rats.